title: Improvement of range precision in laser detection and ranging system by using two Geiger mode avalanche photodiodes.
abstract: In this paper, the improvement of range precision in a laser detection and ranging (LADAR) system by using two Geiger mode avalanche photodiodes (GmAPDs) is described. The LADAR system is implemented by using two GmAPDs with a beam splitter and applying comparative process to their ends. Then, the timing circuit receives the electrical signals only if each GmAPDs generates electrical signals simultaneously. Though this system decreases the energy of a laser-return pulse scattered from the target, it is effective in reducing the range precision. The experimental results showed that the average value of standard deviation of time of flights was improved from 61 mm to 37 mm when the pulse energy is 0.6 μJ. When the time bin width is 0.5 ns, the single-shot precision error of the LADAR system was also improved from 280 mm to 67 mm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, KAIST, 373-1 Guseong-dong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-701, South Korea. kimth@kaist.ac.kr
authors.forename: Tae Hoon
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hong Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Sung Eun
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Jo
authors.forename: Byoung Goo
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Min Seok
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Ayoung
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.forename: Dong Jo
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Park